The Hindu : Sport / Billiards & Snooker : Indian challenge ends

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 05, 2004

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Sport - Billiards & Snooker

Indian challenge ends

By Michael Ferreira

Carlow (Ireland) Aug. 4. Scheduling the quarterfinals and semifinals of a major snooker championship on the same day is a trifle hard on the players, but the imperatives of containing costs after China's last minute withdrawal from hosting the 2004 World under-21 snooker championship gave the organisers here no other option. However, watching the two semifinals featuring the 14-year-old sensation Judd Trump of England against Kobkit Palanjin of Thailand and Gary Wilson of England against the Chinese left-hander Liang Wen Bo (China), fatigue did not seem to be too much of a factor.

Though Wilson and Trump are the favourites to make it an all-English final, they were, at the time of going to press, locked at 2-2 in the best-of-15-frames encounter. Not many gave Aditya much of a chance against Wilson, who late on Tuesday night had beaten reigning IBSF world champion Pankaj Advani 5-2. Wilson is regarded highly on the pro circuit and is in fact ranked no 13 on the Challenge Tour, snooker's equivalent of the tennis Challenger tournaments.

But the Indian contingent was quietly hopeful, as Aditya's form had been improving steadily. His finest hour was when he shocked 18-year-old Mark Allen, a genuine contender for the title, 5-4 in the last 32, followed by a stunning 5-0 success against Brendan Byrne in the pre-quarters.

Aditya raised Indian hopes sky-high when he carved out a 3-0 lead against Wilson, aided by breaks of 42, a brilliant 111 clearance and a 45. This was his second century of the event, after his career-best 125 against Pramual Janthad in the league.

Poor shot

But a poor safety shot in the fourth gave Wilson the chance to get into the groove with a fluent 103. The psychologically important fifth was the last frame before the interval and Aditya looked to be heading to a 4-1 lead when an early 45 allowed him to lead 64-33 on the colours. But a disastrous slash on the green when a gentle attempt was the obvious game saw the cueball disappear into the centre pocket off two cushions. Wilson duly took green to black to force the re-spotted black and then stunned everyone by doubling the black off the spot after being invited by Aditya to take the first shot.

Wilson had a 48 in the sixth to climb back to parity, but a 60 from Aditya in the seventh took the Indian ahead once again. That was to be his last hurrah as Wilson easily won the eighth, constructed an 84 in the ninth and capitalised on Aditya's errors to win the tenth 65-45 for the match.

The scores (quarterfinals): Gary Wilson (Eng) beat Aditya Mehta (Ind) 48(42)-60, 1-116(111), 43-72(45), 103(103)-1, 71-64(48), 76(48)-16, 2-78(60), 67-22, 85(84)-13, 65-45; Liang Wen Bo (Chn) beat Michael White (Wales) 20-78(55), 0-83(50), 61-62, 100(100)-0, 27-62(47), 78(77)-0, 103(84)-8, 81(81)-32, 71(58)-61(61), 0-103(68), 69-62(48); Kobkit Palanjin (Thai) beat Jamie Jones (Wales) 62(62)-37, 70-69(63), 66(46)-39, 60-78(78), 88(63)-20, 38-85(67), 32-87(51), 25-68, 64-23; Judd Trump (Eng) beat John Connors (Ire) 83-0, 54(54)-82(42), 73-1, 84(61)-34, 61-14, 7-103, 51(51)-81(61), 69(41)-48, 70(45)-16.

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